Hydraulically operated slidable jaw wrench



April 26, 1955 A. D. ALLEN 2,706,922

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED SLIDABLE JAW WRENCH Filed April 15, 1954 a 5 Ex 50 Alben 0. Allen INVENTOR.

United States Patent HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED SLIDABLE JAW WRENCH Albert D. Allen, Memphis, Tenn., assignor of fifty per cent to Neil E. Isaacson, Memphis, Tenn.

Application April 13, 1954, Serial No. 422,780

Claims. (Cl. 81-85) This invention relates generally to tool mechanisms, and pertains more particularly to an improved form of wrench.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved form of wrench having hydraulically operated gripping means for exerting an even pressure on a nut member, nipple or any member desired to be gripped by a wrench.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved hydraulic wrench mechanism which incorporates improved and simplified operating means which is notable in its simplicity of construction and ease of manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken through one form of wrench constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of a modified form of jaw construction; and

Figure 4 is a partial longitudinal section showing a modified form of hydraulic assembly.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral indicates the handle of the wrench generally, which will be seen to consist of an elliptical body portion 12 having a closure plate 14 at one end and a closure plate 16 at its other end. The closure plate 14 is provided with a threaded aperture within which a plug member 18 is received by means of which the hollow interior of the handle may be filled with hydraulic fluid for the purpose which will be presently apparent.

Integrally formed with or otherwise suitably secured to the other end cap member 16 is a post member 20 which is formed with a fixed jaw member 22 at its outer free end, the post member extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle member 10. An elongated tubular member 24 is secured to the end plate 16 and projects therethrough to communicate exteriorly of the hollow interior of the handle, and the inner end of this tubular member is provided with a valve seat member 26 with which a ball type check valve member 28 cooperates under action of a coil spring 30 seated against the check valve member and against a transverse pin 32 secured to the tubular member diametrically thereof.

A plunger member 34 is slidably received in the tubular member 24 and is formed at its upper end with a movable jaw member 36 which includes an apertured portion 38 slidably receiving the post member 20 to prevent rotation of the movable jaw with relation to the fixed jaw 22 with which it cooperates to clamp a member therebetween. The movable jaw is provided with a finger member 40 projecting into a bore 42 in the fixed jaw member 22 within which a coil spring 44 is positioned such as to bear against the free end of the finger 40 to normally urge the jaws to a spread apart position for ease in receiving work therebetween.

Below the lower end or inner end of the tubular member 24 is a spider construction 46 which is secured to the handle body 12 and which rigidly supports a cup member 48 in spaced relation to the inner end of the elongated tubular member 24 for cooperation with a second cup member 50 slidably received on the tubular member and interfitting with the first cup member 48. As will be readily apparent, these two cup members are disposed in opposed relation to present a chamber 52 therebetween which is of variable volume. A coil spring member 54 is disposed within the cup members and seats thereagainst to normally urge the movable cup member 50 away from the stationary cup member 48.

An operating handle, indicated generally by the reference character 56 is pivotally secured, as by a pin 58, to the post 20 and includes the upper portion 60 which is bifurcated, as at 62, to straddle the post 20. The handle is of generally L-shaped configuration, and the operating portion 64 thereof overlies the handle body 12 and is adapted, when the wrench is gripped, for ease in manipulation. A link member 66 projects through an aperture 68 in the cap or wall 16 and has a reduced end portion 70 received between the bifurcated portion of the handle such as to provide shoulders, as at 72, engageable by the handle whereby the link member is reciprocated in response to pivotal motion of the handle. The lower end of the link member 66 is provided with a laterally projecting horseshoe-shaped presser foot 74 rigidly secured to the closed end of the cup member 50 to impart reciprocatory motion thereto.

The closed or lower end of the cup member 48 is provided with an inlet conduit member 76 having a neck down portion 78 at its free end to provide a seat for the ball valve member 80 urged into engagement therewith by the coil spring 82 bearing against a pin 84 projecting transversely through and secured to the inlet conduit 76. By this construction, it will be readily apparent that the pivotal motion of the handle 56 will impart reciprocation to the movable cup member 50 to force hydraulic fluid disposed within the hollow interior of the handle 10 up into the chamber 86 between the ball check valve member 28 and the lower end of the plunger 34 which will urge the movable jaw member 36 towards the fixed jaw member 22 to clamp work therebetween.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, a modified form of jaw construction is shown wherein the fixed jaw member is indicated by the reference character 88 and will be seen to have a lower boss portion 90 for rigid securement to the handle assembly and which is provided with a longitudinal bore for receiving the plunger 92 which terminates in the movable jaw member 94. This arrangement is particularly adapted for more rugged and heavier duty.

For the purpose of releasing the pressure within the chamber 86 to permit disengagement of the jaw members from the work, a release button 96 is provided. This button includes a shank portion 98 slidably received in the handle body 12 and provided at its free end with a reduced end portion 100 terminating in an enlarged tapered head 102 cooperating with a conical seat 104 in the tube 24 such that the spring 106 disposed between the button 98 and the handle body 12 will normally close the valve opening. However, upon depression of the valve button 96, the pressure within the chamber 86 will be released.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 4 wherein a modified form of construction is shown, the handle assembly is indicated generally by the reference character 108 and is generally similar to the construction previously described in connection with Figure 1. However, the tube 110 corresponds to the tube 24 and is provided at its inner end with a neck down portion 112 for cooperation with the ball check valve member 114 and associated spring 116 engaging its pin 118. A second ball check valve member 120 is provided in spaced relation to the ball check valve 114, and the second ball check valve cooperates with a seat member 122 rigidly secured to the tube 110 under action of the spring 124 bearing against the pin 126. A cylinder 128 is rigidly secured between the handle member and the tube, and communicates with the latter between the two ball check valve members previously described. A piston 130 is reciprocable within the cylinder and is pivotally secured, as at 132, to the handle 134. Any suitable means may be provided for limiting the outward movement of the piston.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A hydraulic wrench comprising a hollow handle member, a stationary jaw secured to said handle member and spaced from one end thereof, an elongated tube secured within said handle member and communicating exteriorly thereof at said one end, a plunger slidably received in said tube, a jaw fixed to the outer end of said plunger for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw, a lever pivoted to said handle member and overlying the same, a check valve at the inner end of said tube, and pump means connected to said lever for; introducing fluid within said handle member into said tu e.

2. A hydraulic wrench comprising a hollow handle member, a stationary jaw secured to said handle member and spaced from one end thereof, an elongated tube secured within said handle member and communicating exteriorly thereof at said one end, a plunger slidably received in said tube, a jaw fixed to the outer end of said plunger for movement toward and away from said stationary jaw, a lever pivoted to said handle member and overlying the same, a check valve at the inner end of said tube, pump means connected to said lever for introducing fluid within said handle member into said tube, and means on said movable jaw engaging said stationary jaw for normally urging the two jaws apart.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein a cup member is secured within said handle member with its open end facing said tube, a second cup member slidable on said tube and received on the open end of the first cup member, a link secured to said second cup member projecting outwardly of said handle member and pivotally secured to said lever, a spring Within said cup member normally urging them apart, and an inlet tube secured to said first cup member communicating with the chamber in said handle member and having a check valve therein to control the fiow of fluid therethrough.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tube is provided with a second check valve in spaced relation to the first mentioned check valve, a cylinder secured to said handle member and having one of its ends projecting therethrough, said cylinder having its other end secured to and communicating with said tube between the first and second check valves, and a piston slidable in said cylinder and connected to said lever for operation thereby.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein a pressure release button is carried by said handle member for relieving pressure within said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,222 Pellet Feb. 7, 1893 1,271,365 Reynolds July 2, 1918 2,387,102 Wallis Oct. 16, 1945 2,487,281 Steckelberg Nov. 8, 1949 2,508,568 Ellison May 23, 1950 2,517,941 Stubbs Aug. 8, 1950 2,554,127 Simmons May 22, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,044,185 France June 17, 1953 

